diet

Question
Is it all right for our love bird to eat raw spaghetti, raw beans and peas(dried), and other such foods? He loves them, but we're concerned about them not being suitable, as they are uncooked.

Answer
Most raw and uncooked foods are perfectly fine.  My birds get uncooked pasta, peas and other foods in a dry mix with their pellets everyday.  Most beans, though, should not be fed raw -- they contain a mild toxin that could make your bird ill.  There are exceptions; you can feed raw lentils, mung, adzuki, and garbonzo beans without worry of problems.

By the way, you can also feed uncooked rice and oatmeal.  Don't let dry foods be the only extras you feed though... birds also need fresh fruits and vegetables.

- Lara
psitta@yahoo.com